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Washington, DC-Today, Congressman Garamendi (D-CA), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 966, the Walter B. Jones Restoring Power to Congress Act. This legislation would repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) within one year of enactment and is named after his good friend and long-time ally on AUMF-related issues, Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC).

“Congress has a Constitutional responsibility to debate and declare war, and we have abdicated that responsibility for far too long,” Garamendi stated. “That is why I am introducing this legislation to repeal the 2001 AUMF within one year of enactment, which would provide ample time to debate this important issue in Congress. I am also grateful to recognize the leadership of my dear friend, Walter Jones, who is currently in hospice care. Walter has championed this cause for years, I have worked with him closely on this issue in Congress. I am grateful for his wisdom, passion, and advocacy.”

For over 17 years, the United States has legitimized its efforts in Afghanistan with a broad AUMF—fewer than 60 words long—that was passed in 2001. But our objectives in Afghanistan today are fundamentally different than they were when the first AUMF was signed into law, and Congress has provided no modification of this authorization. Even worse, this 17-year-old AUMF was also so broadly written that presidents from both parties have used it to justify military action in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa without Congressional approval and little oversight.

You can read the full text of the Walter B. Jones Restoring Power to Congress Act here.